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What is Gender Dysphoria?

Gender Dysphoria, also known as Gender Identity Disorder, is a condition in which a person feels a strong and persistent identification with the opposite sex. Gender Dysphoria may cause severe distress and discomfort with one’s own physical appearance and may lead to social withdrawal, depression, and anxiety. Individuals with Gender Dysphoria do not necessarily identify as homosexual. It is a relatively rare condition, with most people identifying with the gender they were assigned at birth. The condition can develop at any age, but it often begins in childhood or adolescence. Studies have suggested the condition will develop in most cases by age 7.  

Causes of Gender Dysphoria

Gender Dysphoria can manifest in a number of ways, including feelings of inadequacy or insecurity about one’s body, discomfort with sexual activity, and a strong desire to be rid of one’s sex characteristics. The condition is thought to be caused by a combination of biological and psychological factors, although the exact causes are not yet fully understood. Treatment usually includes psychological counselling and hormone therapy. In some cases, patients may elect to undergo surgery to alter their physical appearance. 

Symptoms of Gender Dysphoria in Children

Children may show an interest in clothes or toys that society tells us are more often associated with the opposite gender, or they may be unhappy with their physical sex characteristics. However, this type of behaviour is also reasonably common in childhood and is considered part of growing up. It does not mean that all children behaving this way have Gender Dysphoria or other gender identity issues. A small number of children may feel lasting and severe distress, which gets worse as they get older. 

In younger children, it is common to see emotional and behavioural difficulties. For teenagers, there are higher rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide attempts. This often happens around puberty, when young people might feel that their physical appearance does not match their gender identity. This feeling can continue into adulthood with some people having a strong desire to change parts of their physical appearance, such as facial hair or breasts. 

For more information: https://raisingchildren.net.au/pre-teens/development/pre-teens-gender-diversity-and-gender-dysphoria/gender-identity 

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